Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As committed to in the current National Development Plan, the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor is being considered as part of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. This Rail Review was announced by me in 2021, in partnership with the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The Review will inform the development of rail on the island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net carbon zero targets in both jurisdictions. Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and a draft Report was published for a Strategic Environmental Assessment public consultation in July of last year.

The draft Report makes 30 recommendations for the rail system across the island out to 2050. Implementation of these recommendations would result in substantial improvements in the capacity, speed, frequency and reach of the rail system. Journey times by rail would be much reduced, and frequency would increase to at least hourly between cities and every two hours on rural and regional routes. The network would be decarbonised, with the intercity routes electrified. There would be the rehabilitation of currently disused lines, including on Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris, as well as new lines to the North-Midlands and North-West, increasing the size of the rail network, widening accessibility and connectivity through rail.

All of this would at least double the market share of rail and enable it to be a stronger backbone of a sustainable public transport system for the people of Ireland.

The public consultation phase of the SEA process concluded on 29th September 2023 and submissions have been reviewed by officials from both jurisdictions.

It is expected that a final Review report, taking account of the comments raised in the consultation, will be submitted for Government approval in both jurisdictions shortly and that the final Review will be published immediately thereafter. I look forward to the Review report's publication.